When you get into an accident, one of the first things you’ll need to do is file a claim with the insurance company. As a Massachusetts resident, you may or may not know that you’ll file a claim with your own auto insurer, as MA is a no-fault state for car accidents.
In either case, you will need to be sure that your auto insurance policy is equipped to meet your needs. The law requires that you carry the bare minimum amounts of auto insurance, and we have described these state minimums in further detail below.
Did you know Massachusetts is a no-fault state for auto accidents? If you are injured in an accident, instead of waiting to file a claim with the liable party’s insurer, you will file a claim with your own insurance company.
Your insurer will be responsible for covering certain losses because you are required to carry personal injury protection (PIP) coverage as part of your auto insurance policy. Your PIP coverage needs to be at least $8,000 before the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) will even allow you to register your vehicle.
Bodily injury liability coverage is designed to protect you if you are injured in an accident. Your bodily injury liability coverage needs to be a minimum of $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident when you are building your auto insurance policy. This will cover the costs associated with the injuries you sustained in the collision.
However, it should be noted that the insurer only covers a maximum of the highest limit of your policy. So if you only carry $20,000/$40,000 coverage, and your medical expenses exceed that, your insurer doesn’t need to pay more than the $20,000/$40,000.
Your property damage liability coverage will need to be at least $5,000. When it comes to the extent a car can be damaged during an accident, this number isn’t significant.
Not only should you ensure that you have the minimum amount required by law, but consider increasing your property damage liability coverage limit. This will help to ensure that you don’t get stuck covering the additional costs of your vehicle repairs if your accident causes more damage than the $5,000 property damage liability minimum auto insurance requirement in MA.
Massachusetts is a no-fault state for auto accidents, so if you don’t have the necessary auto insurance protections in place, you could be in trouble with your insurance company if you are injured in an accident.
Meet with a respected Boston car accident lawyer at Joel H. Schwartz, PC for more information on how you can get the most out of your insurance settlement. We can be reached by phone at 617-742-1170 or through the contact form that can be found on our website.
Joel H. Schwartz, P.C. has been one of the most widely recognized and respected names in personal injury law for more than 50 years. Our partners and associates bring more than 185 years of combined litigation experience to your potential claim. With our longevity and vast experience, we have successfully resolved more than 30,000 claims and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients in the Boston metro area and beyond.... View full business profile here: Joel H. Schwartz, P.C.
